Philippians: Part 2.b. (2.5-11)

Picking up where I left off on the thread on Philippians, I shall now continue musings on the final part of the Christ hymn of 2.5-11.

I left off on verse 8 (which concludes the first part of the hymn, focusing on Christ's humility and obedience, which led him to the point of death--the theme of "descent") and will here focus on verses 9-11 which some call the "re-ascent" portion of the hymn, because it focuses on Christ's ascension as his name is "above every name."

2.9 This is where the major shift occurs in the hymn. I imagine the key switching from minor to major as harmony and justice begin to be restored in the rightful placement of Christ at God's right hand. The shift is signaled by the change in subject. Up until now the one doing the acting is Christ. In verse 9, we see the actor now as God (i.e., the Father) who exalts Christ because of/in response to ("therefore" is "there for" a reason) the extent of Christ's humility and obedience. It is Christ's vindication and identifies that "the central event in the drama of salvation is an act of humble service" (Craddock). It also reminds us of where we are told that if we humble ourselves, God will lift us up; and elsewhere, that "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

2.9-11 If we carefully read this and note the shift of subject from Christ in vv.5-8 to God in vv.9-11, we realize that Christ humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death without promise of reward. Craddock says, "The grave of Christ was a cave, not a tunnel. Christ acted in our behalf without view of gain. That is precisely what God has exalted and vindicated: self-denying service for others to the point of death, with no claim of return, no eye upon a reward." This is a challenging call to those of us who may too often focus on our "mansion just over the hill top." In light of this notion of not having an eye toward our own gain or reward, what does it now mean to have the "mind of Christ"? The last two of Luther's 95 Theses say this:

"94. Christians are to be exhorted that they be diligent in following Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and hell;
95. And thus be confident of entering into heaven rather through many tribulations, than through the assurance of peace."